Harry Potter is coming...

OK, that was for fun, here’s the real trailer...

Cool, eh?

This just in!

OK Kids, I was just cruising around the Web (as I am wont to do) and I discovered that while McDonald’s currently has Avatar: The Last Airbender toys next up, (in like four weeks), it will have Marvel Hero toys.

Now how cool is that?

I'm not entirely sure what the toys will be tying in to (perhaps the Super Hero Squad again, or is there an animated series coming up that I"m unaware of?). Well, I’m not entirely sure, but it really doesn't matter, especially as I’m now aware of it, and will be on the lookout.
More as this develops.

More from Sketchers

A few days ago I discovered a Sketcher’s Comicbook in a box of a pair of Sketcher's sneakers. Today I managed to acquire a couple more comics.

Now, while there is nothing truly spectacular about any of these comics, I do have to say that I am enjoying seeing companies utilize comics to entice and/or reward their customer base.

I think that this is a marketing aspect that is often overlooked and well, should be tapped more often (anyone remember when Marvel used to issue their quarter and annual stock reports in ciomicbook form? Well, while that was certainly the most famous (and ovbious), use of this, it certainly wasn't the first time I had heard of a company doing that.

Still, I couldn’t help but notice that in this story, the “villain” is a creature called The Tangler, who is essentially a sentient, animated shoelace, that unfortunately looks like, well, you look and tell me...

Yeah, I kinda thought so too, especially after I saw this panel. Personally, I think that it is treading dangerously close to “adult manga" but then again, I’m hoping that the kids to whom this is targeted simply haven’t seen the came comics that I’ve seen.

Anyways, in spite of this (admittedly minor) image glitch, I’m solidly behind this Sketcher’s marketing plan, and hope that they continue with it. I know that there are other comics in this series, and I hope to get them all.

Iron Man tastes so good!

So, when Iron Man 2 hit the screens there was (supposedly) a big media tie-in for the flick, needless to say, it wasn’t until just yesterday that I found my first pack Iron Man Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup (and hey, I’ve been looking). Not really sure what to think of that, but well, I finally found one, and well, I’m happy about that.
I understand that there are IM Land of Frost food tie-ins, but I haven’t seen any of those either. I guess that for all his Glitz, Iron Man just isn’t as universally popular as my pal Spidey.

My Dr. is an Iron, Man!

With Iron Man in the theaters for the past month or so, I’ve been aware of numerous IM-tie-ins, only I really haven’t seen any. Not entirely sure why that is, because I’ve been specifically looking for them.

Well, to be sure, I have seen the Dr. Pepper Iron Man cans, only I’ve really been unwilling to purchase a 12-pack sleeve of soda (which I really don’t drink) just to get a can with Iron Man’s pic on it.

Well, yesterday, my son went out to his favorite luncheonette, and purchased lunch along with a drink which turned out to be a Iron Man Dr. Pepper. I managed to rescue the can from being tossed, cleaned it and well, now it is here with my stuff.

Thanks Dylan

The War of the Independents grows ever closer

Well kids, it is getting real exciting now, kids! That’s right, I just got the previous link from Dave Ryan who is the nefarious mastermind behind The long-anticipated War of the Independents, and well, I’m getting all worked up because my characters, The Wülf Girlz are a part of this series.

Dave has been working on this series for a couple of years, and I was one of the first folks to sign up (at least that’s what I recall), and I’ve been looking forward to this for — well quite some time — and I plan on being there at the NY ComicCon when Dave launches it.

I also plan on backing the launch by putting my own money where my mouth is, and I strongly urge you all to do like wise, so please, follow the link to the KickStarter proposal page and do likewise!

Yeah, I’m so happy I could carry a book!

More free funnybooks

So I was out at a local clothing store the other day and I came across a comicbook stuffed inside a a box of Sketchers sneakers. I haven’t read it yet, but it seems that the company is trying to appeal to a teen audience which I think is a very cool idea.

It would be interesting to see if this marketing strategy works, which would be very cool, as it would entice back a younger audience to reading comicbooks, which would (I believe) ultimately benefit the industry, as it would bring back a younger audience, which would (eventually) lead to new blood coming in, and then to these younger kids moving up to older books.

I also think that comics targeted to girls is always a good idea, as there is no reason that comics should be such a boy-dominated industry. Needless to say, once I read the book (which should be as soon as I catch up with my “regular” reading, I fully intend to do.

Spidey-Man, Spidey-Man...

So, A few weeks back, my good pal Liz and I (along with other friends) attended ComiCONN ’09 and, while were there, she did this very nice (Manga) Spidey sketch for me.

I really like it — in spite of the fact that it is “only” in B&W — (and she did another sketch for someone else that was inked and in full color).

Sigh.

Anyway, I really do like it, and eventually, I’m really going to get around to tell you all how much I liked her comic Rasgal, which is published by Immortal Gothic, which also publishes Am I Immortal.

I just recently read Web of Spider-Man #8, and I have a huge issue with a small portion of the storyline. I already sent a version of this post off as a missive off to the Spider-office, but as I'm reasonably certain that it probably won't see print, I wanted to share it here.

The specific sceen to which I’m referring is a one page bit that happens very early on in the story, before the main action, and does not in any way reveal anything of substance from the story itself, so you should be able to read this post without it ruining the overall story, if you haven’t already read it:

**********

Dear Spider-Writers:

I have something of an on-going gripe (yeah, who would have seen that coming, eh?) with the first story in Web of Spider-Man #8.

I’m really not enjoying the way that some (several, many) of you are portraying Peter. The first story of this particular issue is a prime example of what I mean. A newly-unemployed Pete is registering with a temp agency because he is now unemployable as a photographer (for faking the pic of JJJ). OK, I get all that. I can see how the bit is meant to be funny (“Peter Palmer?” “Parker.” “Palmer Parker?”) Yeah cute. Only what follows it totally out of character.

The Rep asks Pete about his use of “Word” “Excel” and “PowerPoint” (Microsoft’s word processing, spreadsheet, and slide generating programs) and Pete (apparently) hasn’t a clue as to what she is talking about. Really? You expect us to buy this drivel? Who do you think we are? I mean, seriously?

You want me to accept that when I was 7 Pete was 15, and now he is 20something and I am, well, much older. Fine, I’m good with that. You want me to believe that he was bitten by a radioactive spider and put on spandex to fight crime? I’m totally there. You want me to accept that he pals around with Norse gods, mutants, un-frozen WWII Super soldiers, and other assorted super-friends, you bet! The he married, er, lived with a supermodel? Abso-posa-lutely!

But now you want me to swallow that he doesn’t know the three most basic computer software programs that have been bundled with virtually every PC for like 20 years or better? Sorry, I’m just not buying it. Yeah, yeah I know that Pete can sometimes be something of a lunkhead (especially in social situations, mostly because he is a science nerd), but that’s my point entirely. HE’S A SCIENCE NERD!

At 15 he developed the unique polymer fluid that became his web fluid, as well as the means to dispense it (in multiple formats). He designed an electronic device that reacted to his Spider-sense (During Civil War there is a scene where Hank Pym is astounded that Pete built the tracer when he was 15, and states that — even by Pym’s standards — Pete is wicked smarter than him). Pete went on to graduate high school with top honors, get into ESU (on a full ride?), and go on to graduate school. Then work with and become employed by a number of scientists and hi-tech firms (including, but not limited to Dr. Connors, Reed Richards, and no less than Tony Stark himself).

You guys have to stop writing Peter like he’s a moron. He is a friggin genius! Can you imagine that someone who can MacGyver spare electronic parts together into something so high-tech could possibly NOT know software that is being used by Middle Schoolers (the audience, I might remind you that you are trying to reach)? Pete isn’t an aging baby boomer, he’s a technical whiz-kid of epic proportions! My son was doing fully animated PowerPoint presentations in the 5th grade, and built a web site in 7th. My daughter is doing Photoshop and video-editing as a HS freshman. Both learned keyboarding in grade school. You simply can’t convince me that someone who is clearly as smart as Peter is supposed to be (in science, math, biology, and chemistry) doesn’t know how to type, use a spreadsheet or the simplest graphic package ever built (hey, he obviously knows Photoshop, a much more complex program).

Sure, sure is a superhero and a photographer, but he’s also worked in a newspaper and around journalists, scientists, and engineers for 10 years or better. So you can tell me that he doesn’t know how to use a washing machine, an iron, or even a lawn mower, but please don’t try to insult my intelligence and tell me he doesn’t know (the simplest of) Microsoft programs. That really is just too much of a stretch!

Tony’s Tips

I don’t usually link to other folks blogs, but I’m making an exception today to link you to an especially interesting post by the world-famous Tony Isabella. In case you have been living under a rock, or as young as my kids, You mihgt not know who Tony is; he’s a very talented writer who has worked in the comics industry longer that we’ve all bee alive (not entirely true). In his on-line column he made some very interesting observations about the recently-running Spider-Man continuity that I found especially penetrating and insightful, so I want to pass them along.

Click over to Tony’s site and check out what he has to say, part of which is...

“Not that anyone asked me, but it defies my willing suspension of disbelief that Peter Parker, this genius of both photography and science, can't earn even a moderately decent living. Way back in the day, when Jim Salicrup was the Spider-editor, I pitched an idea for Peter to become a Bugle science-writer. This would have made use of both his great talents, allowed for amusing moments as the guy struggled to learn how to write, and allowed for his Aunt May to feel some pride/relief her nephew hadn't completely wasted his potential and his years in college.”

Tony is a wise and brilliant man, and well, if some of the current Spider-writers can't figure out how to properly write the title, I suggest that Spider-management contact Tony, as that’s really the best idea I’ve heard in reference to the basis for a Spidey storyline since, well the beginning of BND.

Frank Miller goes back to the well

I'm a big fan of Frank's, always have been. I not only enjoyed 300 when it was a comic, but as a film (same w/Sin City). I'll be looking forward to this comic (and potential film) as well.

Frank Miller and the filmmakers behind "300" are looking for a return to the battlefields of antiquity -- and, no doubt, to the arenas of pop-culture controversy.

Three years ago, the sword-and-sandal adventure "300" became a surprise sensation with moviegoers -- it set box-office records for a March release and became the highest-grossing R-rated film of 2007 -- and delivered career breakthroughs for actor Gerard Butler and director Zack Snyder. But the movie, which was based on the comic books written and drawn by Miller, also triggered an unlikely international incident with its portrayal of the Persian leader Xerxes the bloody Battle of Thermopylae in 480 B.C.

The article goes on to say that the depiction of “Xerxes as as leering and androgynous and the Persian army as a demonic horde” and seemed to irritate Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad concerns me not at all. Does that make me a racist or bad? Perhaps, but again, I care not at all. For my part, I’ll start caring about Ahmadinejad when he starts caring about his people (and/or denouncing the Holocaust).

In the meantime, I'm looking forward to the Dark Horse comic (due out next year), and he can go piss up a rope.

Action Figures

A friend of mine posted this pic on his Facebook page, and, well, I just had to “borrow” it, and re-post it here. I’m not quite sure what’s going on with it, but what the heck, enjoy.

Fast Food Icons at play

OK, this one is a little bit raw, but it really is extraordinarily funny.

BP has become Roxxon Oil...

I guess that it was inevitable, eh?

And then, well, there’s this...

The Twilight of dawn...

This was too funny NOT to post!.



pass it on...